Inking and edge setting machine



March 9, 1948. a. w. LIBERTY INKING AND EDGE SETTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1945 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 fva I z March 9, 1948. I w, R- 2,437,431

INKING EDGE SETTING MACHINE v Filed Oct. .5, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'lEIR:

b/ TJQQJWJL Patented Mar. 9, 1948 s V PATENT OFFICE INKING AND EDGE SETTING MACHINE George W. Liberty, South Lynnfield, Mass., as-

signor to National Development Company, Lynn, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 5, 1945, Serial No. 620,526

9 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for finishing the concave edge portion of shoe treads, such as the concave edge portion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel. I

In finishing the edge of shoe treads, the edge is inked and waxed and then set to finish the edge of the tread. Thepatent toLiberty and Bratt No. 2,243,163, dated May 2'7, 1941, describes a machine for inking and setting the edge of the toplift of a shoe heel but is notadapted to ink or set the concave edge portion of the toplift. Prior to the present invention the concave edge portion of 'thetoplift has been inked by hand. The present invention provides a machine for inking and setting the concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave edge portion of a topli'ft attached to the shoe heel.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: in 'which,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shoe heel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 5 is a view of a shoe heel H having a toplift '1' attached thereto. The present invention provides a machine for inking and setting the concave edge portion C of the toplift.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a machine embodying the invention may comprise a frame I having a horizontal base portion l I. The top surface of the base II is provided with a substantially cylindrical projection l2 having a flat top surface. A cylindrical cavity I3 is provided at the center of the projection I2 and a shaft l4 of smaller diameter projects upwardly from the base through the cavity I3 and terminates at a point above the projection I2.

' 'An ink receptacle I provided with ,a cylindrical side wall I6 and a flat bottom I1 is supported upon the top surface of the projection I2. The side wall I6 projects downwardly below the top surface of the projection I2 to prevent ink lodging'thereon. The receptacle I5 is provided with a central'pillar 20 projecting upwardly from its bottom I'I'and with a sleeve I9 projecting downwardly therefrom into the space between the walls'of the cavity I3 and the shaft I4, the passage in the sleeve I9 being extended upwardly through the bottom I! and into the central pillar Zllthereby permitting the receptacle l5 to be turned about the axis of the shaft I4. The base I I isprovide d with sockets to receive electrical heating elements 43. The receptacle I5 is provided with three partitions 2I extending between the central pillar 20 and the outer cylindrical 2 wall I 6 thereby dividing the receptacle into three compartments each adapted to hold colored wax or ink of a different color.

The top of the pillar 20 is provided with three separate bearings 24 extendingradially outward at an angle of 120 from one another. Separate bearings 24' provided at the top of the wall I6 substantially midway between the partitions 2| are positioned in alignment with the bearings 24. A shaft 25 extends between each pair of aligned bearings 24 and 24' and is rotatably carried thereby." An ink supply roll S having a hub 26 is secured upon each of the shafts 25 adjacent the bearing 24' by a set screw 21. An'armf 30 provided with a hub 3| is rotatably mounted upon each of the shafts 25 between the hub 25 and the bearing 24. The other end of each arm 31! is provided with a hub 32. A bolt 33 having a threaded portion 34 engaging an arm 35 'is sup ported for rotation in the hub 32. The arm 35 is provided with a socket to receive an electrical heating element 36. A bolt 31 threaded in the arm 35 near its upper end provides a bearing for rotatably supporting an ink applying roll A, the periphery of which is provided with an annular groove to "receive a ring of an ink absorbing material 38, such as felt, which engages'the periphery of the ink supply roll S. A strip 40 of spring steel is secured at one end by a screw 4| to the lower end of the arm 35 and is provided with a depression near its upper end adapted to engage a button 42-projecting from the outer surface of the bolt 31. Thus, the ink applying roll A may be removed for replacement merely by swinging the strip 40 about the screw M as a pivot thereby permitting the roll A to be' removed.

A bolt 50 threaded in an upright portion 5I of the frame provides a bearing for rotatably carrying an arm 52'. A bolt 53 is threaded in a projection 54 (Figs. 1 and 3) of the frame I0 and 59 which passes through a slot 60 in the arm 58 and engages'the arm 52. An edgesetting iron BI is secured near the upper end of the arm 58 by a bolt 62 which passes through a slot 6 in the iron BI and engages the arm 58.

Spaced upright portions 65 (Figs. 1 and 3) of the frame I 0 are provided with grooves 65 in their adjacent edges. A block 63 extends between and slidably engages the grooves'BG. The opposite ends of a screw 61 having a knurled wheel 68 fixed thereto engage threaded holes 69 and Ill heels of difierent shapes. "frame and theprojection l2 thereon is provided =with'a cavity l8 for housing a conventional spring a bearing 14 which rotatably engages a bolt 13 A bearing 15 formed...

secured to the member 1|.

places the heel H in contact with the guide members l2 and 99 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 and then moves the heel forwardly first to engage the ink applying roll A and then to engage the edge setting iron 6|. As the heel H contacts the ink applying roll A the latter is rotated around the periphery of the ink supply roll S thereby causing on the guide plate 12 near its other end rotatably engages a bolt 16 secured to. themember "H. The head of the bolt 19 is adapted to lock :the bearing 15 against the member H whereby the the roll A to be moved to the dot and dash line position' shown in Fig. 1 with its edge at the guide member 12 may be adjusted aboutthe axis 7 of the aligned bolts 13 and 16.

A U-shaped plate 89 is secured to the 'topt'of' the upright frame portion 8| by bolts 82. Each of the adjacent edges of the parallel arms of the U-shaped plate 89 is'provided with a groove 83. A block 84 extends between and slidably engages the groove 83. The opposite ends of a screw 85 having a knurled wheel 89 fixed thereto are adaptedto engage threaded holes'8'l and 88 in theblock 84 and plate 89, respectively, whereby the block 84 may be adjusted horizontally. A U-shaped member 89 formed integral with the block 84 adjustably carries a guide plate 99. A bearing 94 is formed on the plate 99 near one endthereof and rotatably engages a bolt 9| secured in the member 89. The guide member 99 also is provided with a bearing 92 near its opposite end and rotatably engages a bolt 93 fixed in the member '89. The bearing 92 may be frictionally locked between the member 89 and the head of the bolt 93 whereby the guide member 99 may be adjusted about the axis of the aligned bolts 9| and 93. The guide memberslZ and 99 are spaced apart and provide means for guiding the movement of a heel-H along a predetermined path. r

The arm 39 is'provided with a lateral projection 45 adapted to engage a rubber stop 46 carried in the-upper end of a bolt 41 adjustably mounted in the pillar 29. A spring 39 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured at one end to a pin 29 carried by the arm 39 and secured at its other end to a hook 28 secured in the wall of the ink receptacle l5 urges the projection 45 on the arm 39 into contact with the rubber stop 46 and, consequently, tends to move the ink applying roll A to a position projecting into the path of movement of the heel H and spaced from the position of the edge setting ironBl.

It will be noted that the edge setting iron 6! and the ink applying roll A may be brought into desired spaced positions projecting into the path of movementof the heel H by adjusting the position of the-edge setting iron and the ink applying roll--on their supporting means or by properly adjustingthe positions of the spaced guide members l2 and 90. Also,the members 12 and 99 may be adjusted angularly to positions suitable .for The base. 11 of .the

latch 22 adapted to engage any one of the cavities 23in the bottom ll of the ink receptacle (5. The cavities 23 are spaced equidistantin'a circularpath having the axis of the shaft [4 as its centerwhereby the receptacle l5 may be adjusted to any one of three selected positions depending upon the colored wax-or ink which is desired for use. The positions of the cavities 23 are located so that when any one is engaged by the latch 22,

one of the ink applying rolls A is positioned in the path of movement of the heel H.

In the operation of the machine the operator boundary of the path of movement of the heel. Further forward movement of the heel permits the spring 39 to rotate the roll A in the opposite direction about the periphery of the supply roll S and thereby come in contact with the concave portion C of the heel "and apply ink thereon. After the heel passes out of contact with the roll A the latter is moved rearwardlyto its original position projecting into the path of movement of the heel. As the operator continues the forward movement of the heel it engages the edge setting iron BI and causes the latter to move to the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. l at the edge of the path of movement of the heel. Further forward movement of the heel permits the spring 51 to move the edge setting iron rearwardly so that it engages the inked concave edge portion C of the heel and set the same. After the heel passes out of contact with the iron 9| the latter is caused to move to its original position projecting into the path of movement of the heel by the spring 51.

The ink used in the preferred practice of the invention is a colored wax compound which is solid at normal temperature. .It'is liquefied by heat and applied while in its heated liquid state and dries and hardens almost instantly after application to the edge of the tread. Throughout this specification and appended claims the term ink is intended to mean either a wax or color or both.

I claim:

1. A machine for finishing a concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave edge portion-of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a predetermined path, means for applying ink to said edge portion, an edge setting iron, means for supporting'the ink applying means and said iron for movement toward and from spaced positions projecting into said path, and resilient means tending to move the ink applying means and said iron toward their respective spaced positions projecting into said path whereby when said heel is moved inone direction along said path the ink applying means is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to ink the latter and then said iron is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to set it.

'2. A machine for'finishing a concave edge portion of ashoe heel. such as the concave edge portion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a-predetermined path, means for applyingiink to said edge'portion, an edge setting iron, means for supporting the ink applying means and said iron for movement toward and from spaced positions projecting into said path, and resilient means tending to move the ink applying means and said iron toward their respective spaced positions projecting into said path whereby when said heel is moved in one direction along said path the ink applying means is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to ink the latter and then said iron is moved away fromits position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to set it, the guiding means comprising a pair of guide members, means for supporting said members for adjustment about spaced axes and for adjustment of said axes in separate planes.

3. A machine for finishing a concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave edge por tion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a predetermined path, means for applying ink to said edge portion, an edge setting iron, adjustable means for supporting the ink applying means and said iron for movement toward and from desired spaced positions projecting into said path; and resilient means tending to move the ink applying means and said iron toward their respective spaced positions projecting into said path whereby when said heel is moved in one direction along said path the ink applying means is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to ink the latter and then said iron is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to set it.

4. A machine for finishing a concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave edge portion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a predetermined path, means for applying ink to said edge portion, an edge setting iron, adjustable means for supporting the ink applying means and said iron for movement toward and from desired spaced positions projecting into said path, and resilient means tending to move the ink applying means and said iron toward their respective spaced positions projecting into said path whereby when said heel is moved in one direction along said path the ink applying means is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to ink the latter and then said iron is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to set it, the guiding means comprising a pair of guide members, means for supporting said members for adjustment about spaced axes and for adjustment of said axes in separate planes.

5. A machine for finishing a concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave portion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a predetermined path, a rotatably mounted ink supply roll, a pivotally mounted arm, an ink applying roll rotatably carried by said arm with its periphery engaging that of the ink supply roll, a pivotally mounted edge setting iron, and resilient means tending to move said ink applying roll and said iron toward spaced positions projecting into said path whereby when said heel is moved in one direction along said path the ink applying roll is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to ink the latter and then said iron is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to set it.

6. A machine for finishing a concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave portion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a predetermined path, an ink receptacle having a plurality of ink compartments, ink applying means associated with each compartment for movement toward and from a predetermined position, means for adjusting the position of said receptacle to bring a selected ink applying means to its predetermined position projecting into said path, an edge setting iron, means for supporting said iron for movement toward and from a position projecting into said path and spaced from said selected ink applying means, and resilient means tending to move said selected ink applying means and said iron toward their said spaced positions projecting into said path whereby when said heel is moved in one direction along said path the ink applying means is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to ink the latter and then said iron is moved away from its position projecting into said path and then in engagement with said edge portion to set it.

7. In a machine for finishing a concave edge portion of a shoe heel, such as the concave edge portion of a toplift attached to a shoe heel, comprising means for'guiding the movement of said heel to cause said concave portion to travel along a predetermined path, means projecting into said path for applying ink to said edge portion, an edge setting iron projecting into said path for setting ink applied to said concave portion, said guide means including a pair of guide members, and means for adjusting the position of one of said members to change the location of the path of travel of said heel relatively to said ink applying means and said iron.

8. A machine for finishingan edge portion of shoe heels comprising, in combination, guiding means for said heels to cause a portion thereof to travel a predetermined path, ink applying means, a support, an ink receptacle carried by said support having a plurality of ink compartments, an ink supply roll associated with each compartment, means for adjusting the position of said ink receptacle on said support to bring a selected ink supply roll to a predetermined desired position, an edge setting iron, and means 'operable during the guided movement of said heels to ink and edge set the heels.

9. A machine for finishing an edge portion of shoe heels comprising, in combination, guiding means for said heels to cause a portion thereof to travel a predetermined path, ink applying means, edge setting means, and means for relatively adjusting said guiding means and said ink applying means to change the relative positions ofsaid path and said ink applying means.

GEORGE w. LIBERTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,163,335 Blackley June 20, 1939 2,169,681 Dudle Aug. 15, 1939 2,200,417 Doyle May 14, 1940 2,243,163 Liberty May 27, 1941 

